Bring first nations into the economic mainstream

Sorry is not good enough. We have to transform the first nation’s culture of victimization into a forward-looking, self-sustaining society of students, workers, professionals, entrepreneurs and investors. I have a column describing some of the steps Canada needs to take here.

This was an excellent article, outlining some of the issues that are very relevent within the aborginal community. The WASP’s have given a lot of other people a hard time when they came to this country and they have perservered and prospered. The big issue is that they have no ownership of assets and don’t have that as a focus for building their own personal wealth, nor the pride that comes from doing this. Chief Louie is certainly on the right track with his people.

“A cultural change…………” This is a great piece. As one who worked as an ADM in Ottawa, in an agency that intersected regularly with Indian Affairs, I recognize the wisdom of your analysis. And especially the folly of a perpetual money tree grant system with no strings attached, the necessity of thorough audits, abandonment of the collectivist system, and Chief Louie’s “kick in the butt” formula. My generation would have a dismal labour force participation rate too, if we had grown up in a society with neither a work ethic nor accountability.